Istanbul to Ankara (IST–ESB) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
IST–ESB is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines, JetBlue and Royal Air Maroc lead the route. The flight covers 237 miles in approximately 1h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 31 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK Turkish Airlines | 98 | 320, 32B, 73H, 73J | 1h10-1h15 | – | Star Alliance | – |
| B6 JetBlue | 28 | 32B, 32Q, 73H, 77W | 1h10 | – | – | – |
| AT Royal Air Maroc | 14 | 32B, 32Q | 1h10 | – | Oneworld | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Ankara from Istanbul
| Metric | IST→ESB | SAW→ESB | TEQ→ESB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from IST | – | 40 mi | 43 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 140 | 117 | 3 |
| Flight time | 1h 10m | 1h | 1h 5m |
Travel Essentials
IST: +03 · ESB: +03
When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 6:00 PM in Ankara.
Istanbul Metro M11 Gayrettepe–İstanbul Havalimanı line connects the airport to the broader metro network; from Gayrettepe (Mecidiyeköy/Levent area) the journey is about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart). The line runs roughly 5am to midnight.Havaist express buses serve Taksim, Kadıköy, and other major hubs (₺50–80, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic). Taxis use a meter; expect ₺400–600 from Taksim or Sultanahmet. The airport is 35km northwest of the city; traffic on the O-7 motorway can be severe during peak hours.
IST–ESB Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IST to ESB
İstanbul Airport (IST) and Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) are connected by nonstop service from Royal Air Maroc, JetBlue and Turkish Airlines. With 140 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IST to ESB Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IST to ESB ranges from 1 hours 10 minutes to 1 hours 15 minutes. The route covers a distance of 237 miles (381 km). There are approximately 140 weekly flights outbound and 140 return, totaling 280 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
31 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 5 hours via MQM. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Pendik, Istanbul (SAW) and Çorlu (TEQ).